"Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”
When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
And Moses said, “Here I am.”
“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God."
Exodus 3:1-6
Moses was rescued from Pharaoh's death edict, ironically growing up as a son of privilege in Pharaoh's house. This 40 year phase of his life abruptly ended after murdering an Egyptian slave driver and being discovered by Pharaoh, and he fled to Midian, where he made a new life for himself, and then at about the young age of 80, Moses had the Encounter ... With God Himself. This is the first recorded encounter he had with the Lord that I know of, and it changed everything for Moses, ushering in a new phase of His life, as he stood in the undeniable presence of God. I'm sure as Moses tended sheep, he often wondered about his old life, and I frankly wonder how much his Midianite family knew about his past. But God had a plan for Moses, and Moses believed God (when faced with a burning bush, how could he not?). As he moved forward willingly, and obeyed God, he was transformed from a stuttering murderer to a powerful and influential leader of his people, Israel, as they were delivered from slavery, and eventually entered the Promised Land.
There is an Encounter awaiting each of us, and His promises for our lives, no less important than His plan for Moses! Some of us have had that Encounter, but for others it is coming, and will happen suddenly, often when we expect it the least, in the most unlikely time and place! One thing is for certain: when we are in the presence of our All Consuming Fire, it will change everything. Jesus is no respecter of persons- titles, earthly wealth, etc., have no influence over how He looks at us- our King looks at the heart, and He knows who you are, and where you are- in every sense of the word.
Get ready to take off your sandals, beloved-an Encounter is coming.
When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
And Moses said, “Here I am.”
“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God."
Exodus 3:1-6
Moses was rescued from Pharaoh's death edict, ironically growing up as a son of privilege in Pharaoh's house. This 40 year phase of his life abruptly ended after murdering an Egyptian slave driver and being discovered by Pharaoh, and he fled to Midian, where he made a new life for himself, and then at about the young age of 80, Moses had the Encounter ... With God Himself. This is the first recorded encounter he had with the Lord that I know of, and it changed everything for Moses, ushering in a new phase of His life, as he stood in the undeniable presence of God. I'm sure as Moses tended sheep, he often wondered about his old life, and I frankly wonder how much his Midianite family knew about his past. But God had a plan for Moses, and Moses believed God (when faced with a burning bush, how could he not?). As he moved forward willingly, and obeyed God, he was transformed from a stuttering murderer to a powerful and influential leader of his people, Israel, as they were delivered from slavery, and eventually entered the Promised Land.
There is an Encounter awaiting each of us, and His promises for our lives, no less important than His plan for Moses! Some of us have had that Encounter, but for others it is coming, and will happen suddenly, often when we expect it the least, in the most unlikely time and place! One thing is for certain: when we are in the presence of our All Consuming Fire, it will change everything. Jesus is no respecter of persons- titles, earthly wealth, etc., have no influence over how He looks at us- our King looks at the heart, and He knows who you are, and where you are- in every sense of the word.
Get ready to take off your sandals, beloved-an Encounter is coming.
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